Z31 300ZX Series II

Nissan, justifiably stung hard by the critical panning its once-great Z-car series was receiving, worked hard to inject some of the original’s sportiness into the bloated 300ZX.

The result was the Series II, which was the stylistic work of Nissan’s burgeoning California studio.

It rounded off the front, incorporated redesigned tail-lights, added flared wheel arches, new bumpers, restyled alloy wheels and revised (slightly more tasteful) interior trim.

Mechanical changes included a new five-speed manual transmission and better brakes. The weight now rocketed to around 1545kg.

In the end, this generation 300ZX looked or drove no more sharply than its flabby predecessor, and had the added burden of not even being a cohesive design.

The only way was up for the Z-car - and Nissan knew it.